Michael History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Michael

What does the name Michael mean?

The Michael family originally lived in the town of Mitcham in the county of Surrey, England before moving north to Scotland, and taking this name with them. In Scotland, as hereditary surnames were adopted during the late Middle Ages, names derived from localities became increasingly widespread. Local names sometimes denoted the proprietorship of the village or estate. Alternatively the name was derived from the personal name Michael, meaning "who is like God" and influenced by the Norman French to Michel and later to Mitchell. The Gaelic form of the name was MacgilleMichael. 1

Crossmichael is a parish, in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright. "This place, which is of remote antiquity, derives its name, in old documents Corse-Michael, from the dedication of its church, which was granted to the abbey of Sweetheart, in the year 1275, by Dervorgille, wife of Allan, Lord of Galloway, and mother of John Baliol, King of Scotland. " 2

Early Origins of the Michael family

The surname Michael was first found in Surrey. Although the records are vague, it is most likely that this name moved north from Durham or Yorkshire around 1130 and were one of the many families invited north by King David of Scotland when he ascended the throne. Significantly, John Michelsone had a safe conduct passage to England to conduct trading south of the border in 1395.

Meanwhile, William Michelsone held his estates in Innerkethin Scotland. The Latinization of this name at this time was Michaelis and many of the individuals are recorded in charters under this name. John Michaelis of Brechin was the rector of that place in 1464. "Robert Michael de Hyrmanston was a charter witness in 1438, John Michell had a remission granted him in 1489 for his part in holding Dumbarton Castle against the king, and John Mitsell held a land in Glasgow in 1496." 1

Early History of the Michael family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Michael research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1433, 1463, 1465, 1474, 1591, 1600, 1642, 1646, 1662, 1663, 1699, 1702, 1710 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Michael History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Michael Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Mitchell, Michel, Michell, Mitchill, Mychell, Mitcham and many more.

Early Notables of the Michael family

Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Michael Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Michael Ranking

In the United States, the name Michael is the 877^th most popular surname with an estimated 34,818 people with that name. 3 However, in Australia, the name Michael is ranked the 607^th most popular surname with an estimated 6,442 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Michael family to Ireland

Some of the Michael family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Michael migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Michael Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Henry Michael, who landed in Virginia in 1661 5
Archibald Michael, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682 5
Anne Michael, who landed in Virginia in 1696 5

Michael Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johann Heinrich Michael, who landed in New York, NY in 1709 5
Henrich Michael, who arrived in New York in 1709-1710 5
Hans Henrich Michael, who landed in New York, NY in 1710 5
Niclaus Michael, who landed in New York, NY in 1710-1714 5
Callman Michael, who landed in New York, NY in 1716 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Michael Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mary Michael, aged 23, who arrived in America in 1822 5
Salvi Michael, who landed in Mississippi in 1825 5
Gerh Michael, who arrived in America in 1836 5
John Michael, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 5
Jacob Michael, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1840 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Michael Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Athanasius Michael, who landed in Alabama in 1913 5

Michael migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Michael Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Paul Michael, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Friedrich Michael setled in Canada in 1783
Mr. Davy Michael U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 6

Michael migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Michael Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. George Michael, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 5th November 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land)1836 7
James Michael, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cleveland" in 1839 8
Mary Michael, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cleveland" in 1839 8
Susan Clarke Michael, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cleveland" in 1839 8
Mr. Charles Michael, Scottish convict who was convicted in Inverary, Scotland for 10 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 25th January 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Michael migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Michael Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Richard M. Michael, aged 21, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Inverness" in 1875
Mr. Richard M. Michael, (b. 1854), aged 21, Cornish navvy departing on 21st August 1875 aboard the ship "Inverness" going to Hawkes Bay, New Zealand arriving in port on 28th November 1875 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Michael (post 1700) +

Eugene Richard Michael (1938-2017), American shortstop, coach, scout, manager and executive in Major League Baseball
Bill Michael (1935-2016), American head football coach at UTEP from 1977 to 1981
Kevin Michael (b. 1985), American Contemporary R&B, soul, funk, pop artist
Second Lieutenant Harry J Michael, American officer awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1945
First Lieutenant Edward S Michael, American officer awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1944
Cyril Michael, American politician, U.S. Attorney for Virgin Islands, 1951-54
Charles F. Michael, American politician, Delegate to Ohio convention to ratify 21st amendment, 1933
Charles F. Michael, American politician, Representative from Connecticut 1st District, 1904; Democratic Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Bristol, 1906
Cassius K. Michael, American politician, Representative from New York 1st District, 1908
C. Edwin Michael, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Nazareth, Pennsylvania, 1899-1907
... (Another 29 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Michael family +

Bismarck

Wilhelm Michael (1919-1941), German Mechanikersobergefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 11

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Dewi Michael, English 2nd Class passenger from England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 12

USS Indianapolis

Bertrand Franklin Michael, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 13
Elmer Orion Michael, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 13

The Michael Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Favente Deo supero
Motto Translation: By God’s favour I conquer.

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1835
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CLEVELAND 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Cleveland.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to other ports, 1872 - 84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew